Lab-GrownOct 18, 2023
Prada Debuts Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Collection Lab-GrownOct 26, 2023
Monique Lhuillier Adds Lab-Grown Diamonds to Kay Jewelers Collection
The bridal gown designer is offering bigger center stones at more accessible price points.
Bridal gown designer Monique Lhuillier is adding lab-grown diamonds to her “Bliss” bridal jewelry collection, exclusive to Kay Jewelers.
New York—Bridal gown designer Monique Lhuillier is adding lab-grown diamonds to her engagement ring collection at Kay Jewelers.
Lhuillier is once again expanding her “Bliss” line, adding 21 new styles to the range.
The offerings include 12 engagement ring styles, six “universal,” or unisex, matching bands, and three women's lab-grown diamond bands.
The engagement rings feature round, princess-cut, oval, emerald and pear-shaped lab-grown center diamonds set in 18-karat yellow, white, and rose gold.
"With this new category debut, I have showcased my signature designs with larger carat weights while remaining accessible to the Kay consumer," said Monique Lhuillier in a statement.
Lhuillier is once again expanding her “Bliss” line, adding 21 new styles to the range.
The offerings include 12 engagement ring styles, six “universal,” or unisex, matching bands, and three women's lab-grown diamond bands.
The engagement rings feature round, princess-cut, oval, emerald and pear-shaped lab-grown center diamonds set in 18-karat yellow, white, and rose gold.
"With this new category debut, I have showcased my signature designs with larger carat weights while remaining accessible to the Kay consumer," said Monique Lhuillier in a statement.
A selection of lab-grown diamond engagement rings from the newly expanded Monique Lhuillier “Bliss” line
The expanded collection features 21 new styles, including 12 engagement rings, six unisex bands, and three women's lab-grown diamond bands.
She debuted the collection at a private event in New York City Wednesday, sitting down for a Q&A session with Alexandra Macon, weddings editor at Vogue.com and founder of bridal e-commerce website Over the Moon.
The pair was introduced by Bill Brace, president of Kay Jewelers.
“It’s been exciting to see how we together have been able to translate her fabulous designs into the world of jewelry and create what I think is the pinnacle of design for modern brides and grooms,” said Brace.
During the discussion, Lhuillier spoke about her early connection to jewelry and her dream of opening a jewelry store.
Designer Monique Lhuillier (left) sat down with Alexandra Macon, weddings editor at Vogue.com and founder of bridal e-commerce website Over the Moon, for a Q&A about her new collection during an event at La Mercerie in New York City on Wednesday.
“I grew up with a very glamorous mother,” she said. “She loved jewelry so much. Sometimes she would pick her jewelry first and then decide what she was going to wear, so she instilled that in me.”
She recalled often receiving jewelry gifts for Christmas and Valentine’s Day when she was growing up.
In her high school yearbook, she said her goal was to open fashion and jewelry stores around the world.
She began her career in fashion, elevating herself to one of best-known bridal designers, before teaming up with Kay Jewelers during the pandemic.
Her two loves go hand in hand, with her jewels mirroring the romantic, floral-inspired dress designs.
“You’re only going to wear the dress once, but I wanted you to look down at your jewelry and remind yourself how special that moment was,” she said.
She also spoke about why she was hesitant to incorporate lab-grown diamonds into her collection, and what changed her mind.
Around two years ago, the Kay team asked her if she’d like to use lab-grown diamonds.
“I wasn’t ready back then. I didn’t know enough about the product.”
After learning more about them, she was on board with the idea.
“I love how the stone looks. I love how it’s colorless. I love the brilliance and how you can get an impactful design with a larger center stone,” Lhuillier said.
Macon added, “The accessibility of the price points, you can’t ignore it.”
The jewels range in price from $1,099 for a band to $19,000 for a three-carat diamond ring.
The collection is available online at Kay Jewelers’ website and in select Kay stores.
Lhuillier previously expanded the Bliss line earlier this year, adding colored gemstones and black diamonds to the mix.
More on Lab-Grown
The Latest
MajorsJul 26, 2024
Diamonds Direct Opens Store in AtlantaIt’s the Signet-owned banner’s first location in Georgia.
TrendsJul 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Bea Bongiasca’s ‘Double Loop’ EarringsCommemorate “brat summer” with these green hoops.
EditorsJul 26, 2024
Out & About: A Dispatch from the Nation’s Smallest StateEditor-in-Chief Michelle Graff returns from Rhode Island with thoughts about in-store shopping and a trends report.
Brought to you by
The End of an Era? Lab-Grown Diamonds' Journey Towards Price StabilityAs the demand for lab-grown diamond jewelry may still be increasing, the most notable change we are likely to see is price stabilization.
Supplier BulletinJul 25, 2024
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionSponsored by Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizJul 25, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
TechnologyJul 25, 2024
Amazon, BBB Sue Website Allegedly Peddling Fake Reviews They claim ReviewServiceUSA.com was selling both positive and negative reviews of products and businesses.
SourcingJul 25, 2024
De Beers’ H1 Revenue Falls 21% in ‘Weak’ MarketLab-grown diamond sales in the United States and ongoing economic challenges in China are impacting natural diamond demand.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionGIA®’s most advanced microscope has new features to optimize greater precision and comfort.
IndependentsJul 25, 2024
Store Designer Ruth Mellergaard DiesA longtime member of IJO, she’s remembered for her passion for design, learning, and environmentalism.
FinancialsJul 25, 2024
Boucheron, Pomellato Post Double-Digit Growth in Q2 The gains come amid a tough time for parent company Kering, which saw sales slide 11 percent in the first half of the year.
MajorsJul 25, 2024
Shane Co. Partners With Kids In Need Foundation to Donate 7,200 BackpacksThe fine jewelry retailer filled backpacks with back-to-school essentials for students in 13 states.
FinancialsJul 24, 2024
LVMH’s First-Half Jewelry, Watch Sales Dip 5%Tiffany & Co. is focusing on its “iconic” collections while the company has made changes at the top at TAG Heuer and Hublot.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
See Chaumet’s Paris Olympic Medals Inspired by its High JewelryThe Parisian brand is the first jewelry company in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to design the medals.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Jewelers Mutual Acquires Pawnbroker Insurance ProviderUnion Life & Casualty will join JM Insurance Agency Partners, expanding the provider’s pawnbroker coverage.
MajorsJul 24, 2024
Ben Bridge Announces 2024 Lonia Tate Scholarship WinnerLos Angeles-based Bradlei Smith was selected for this year’s award.
ColumnistsJul 23, 2024
Peter Smith: The Case for Optimism in Sales In his latest column, Smith shares multiple reasons why people who look at the glass as being hall full often make better salespeople.
SourcingJul 23, 2024
De Beers’ Production Drops 15% in Q2The company also reported the $150 million sale of an iron ore royalty right, part of its ongoing effort to divest “non-core” assets.
IndependentsJul 23, 2024
Long’s Jewelers Is Giving Away a Luxury Cape Cod VacationThe giveaway is part of the New England jeweler’s summer bridal event.
CollectionsJul 23, 2024
Guzema Debuts ‘Flower Power’ CampaignThe ad features three celebrity florists creating floral sculptures while wearing jewelry by Guzema.
Policies & IssuesJul 23, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant WinnersThe grant provided a total of $100,000 to support 13 entrepreneurs from diamond communities in Africa and India.
CrimeJul 22, 2024
Florida Jeweler Shot, Killed Following Argument With CustomerGhazi Michel Osta, or “Gus,” was killed Friday by an 83-year-old man said to be a frequent customer at his store, Volusia Gold & Diamond.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2024
JVC’s Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez Joins RJCThe organization also announced Effie Marinos as its new specialist advisor for technical standards, as well as four other appointments.
SourcingJul 22, 2024
AWDC Names Karen Rentmeesters as CEORentmeesters has served as interim CEO since April following former CEO Ari Epstein’s resignation.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
Longtime D.C. Jeweler Brian Mann Dies at 70Mann, whose family’s jewelry store was located inside the Pentagon, is remembered for being a thoughtful champion of the industry.
IndependentsJul 19, 2024
The 1916 Company Opens New Tudor BoutiqueThe 500-square-foot boutique is located in Denver’s Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
CollectionsJul 19, 2024
Piece of the Week: Messika’s ‘So Move Max’ NecklaceDance all night long with the “So Move Max” set’s necklace.
WatchesJul 18, 2024
TAG Heuer, Hublot Will Have New CEOs Luxury giant LVMH is reshuffling the leadership in its watches division.
